Backyard Yoga Blog - Backyard Yogahttp://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/Tue, 09 May 2017 13:36:15 +0000en-USSite-Server v6.0.0-13636-13636 (http://www.squarespace.com)Spring Break TogetherErica GolubWed, 21 Mar 2018 11:00:00 +0000/blog/2016/SpringBreakTogether55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:56f939665559869dd38611a3Spring break week is upon us, so I will keep this week's post short and sweet. If you have been following Backyard Yoga, you know we are all about playing together, and this week is an opportunity to do just that. I encourage you to use this concentrated time to discover more about each other through play. It doesn't matter what age your children are. There is always something new for you to discover about them and for them to discover about you.

Here are a couple of ideas for connecting:

Let each child have an opportunity to plan an activity, or even an entire day, during the week. You might find that new interests are developing that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. This week my daughters have asked to go to the library and children's museum.

Meal-plan together and then make those meals as a family. Making pizzas together is one of our favorite family dinners.

Create something together. We like to make family art projects where I simply put out a sheet of blank paper and tools, then everyone adds their touch throughout the day or week. Also see last week's post, Nesting Ball, for another fun activity idea.

Plan a surprise adventure. Who doesn't love a surprise? This is also an opportunity for you to show your kids you SEE them and know what they like.

Make a family playlist. Let each member of the family pick 3-5 of their favorite songs. Share the list on all of your devices. Each time it's listened to, either together or independently, you are always connected.

Spring Break TogetherCelebrate St. Patrick's Day With Four-Leaf Clover BreathErica GolubWed, 14 Mar 2018 11:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2017/3/13/st-patricks-day55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:58c6a83929687fbc123b9741The Groundhog Finger Meditation was such a hit that I've created another finger maze for St. Patrick's Day! Four-leaf clovers are a cute and playful way to introduce the concept of square breath. Square breath is a calming breath exercise where the inhale and exhale are equal in length--just like the four sides of a square (or, in this case, the four leaves of our lucky clover).

Here is a coloring sheet version for you to print:

Here's how it works:

You can choose to either screen-capture the graphic below for use on a tablet, or print out a physical copy.

Place your finger at the START and follow the breathing prompts.

Try to follow the maze at an even pace. Inhale and exhale, through your nose, for the entire length of each line. Pause for just a brief moment at the top and bottom of each breath.

The benefits:

Increases focus by having to control the finger through the tight maze while following the breath prompts.

Reduces stress by calming nerves as you increase your oxygen intake.

Improves mood by increasing the oxygen supply to the brain.

Here is a full-color version, too:

Enjoy! Please take a minute to let me know what you think in the comments below. If there is a strong, positive response to this breathing exercise, I will take the time to design more themes in the near future.

Peace + Play

erica

]]>Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With Four-Leaf Clover BreathMay Gratitude GardenErica GolubTue, 09 May 2017 14:23:42 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2017/5/9/may-gratitude-garden55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:5911c5cfdb29d6c0794cf75f"April showers bring May flowers." I can't help but think how much this simple, spills-from-our-mouths phrase relates to life in general. We all experience "rainy" times in our lives, and I hope they are as short-lived as a spring rain shower. Unfortunately for many, though, the gray clouds hang around much longer than expected. In order to help pass through those storms, I offer this gratitude practice for both children and adults.

A daily practice of gratitude helps to shift our brains' natural negative bias to a more positive one. This particular exercise takes the practice of gratitude a little bit deeper. In a typical exercise, you would start each morning by thinking of three things you are grateful for. In this practice, you will still write three things you are grateful for, but then expand on those gratitudes by writing six reasons why.

For example, if you write MOM in the center of the flower, you might fill the petals with LOVE, YUMMY COOKING, WARM HUGS, DOING MY LAUNDRY, ALWAYS LISTENING, and BUYING ME CLOTHES.

I borrowed this concept from my designer brainstorming toolbox. When faced with a design challenge, I might create a bubble diagram where I start with the problem statement in the center and expand out from there with ideas and concepts that might solve the problem. It's a great tool to open up more avenues of exploration. I have found the same principle can be applied to the practice of gratitude. This technique allows you the opportunity to dig a little deeper and explore.

I hope you enjoy the practice!

Peace + Play

erica

]]>May Gratitude GardenHappy Spring! Bunny Breath Meditation Maze Is Here.Erica GolubMon, 20 Mar 2017 20:33:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2017/3/20/bunnybreathing55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:58cfe150f7e0ab911f80358cSpring has finally arrived--at least on the calendar! As the weather works to catch up with the season, sometimes we need to give ourselves a little energy boost. Bunny Breath is a great, energizing breath exercise that you only need to do a few times to feel the benefits. Quick and effective? What's not to like about that?

Why Practice Breathing?

We breathe all the time without having to think about it--it's how we exist. However, by stopping to actually explore our breath, we can better understand our current emotional and physical state. In just three mindful breaths, you can check in with your thoughts, your body, and your feelings. Here's the really cool part: once we know where we are at, we can use breathing exercises to take us to where we want to be.

Feeling a little sluggish? Try three Bunny Breaths from the worksheet below.

Benefits of practicing gratitude:

Enhances empathy and reduces aggravation: Simply put, we are more KIND.

Improves self-esteem.

Increases mental strength: Being able to recognize all you have to be thankful for, even in the worst of times, fosters resilience.

Writing in a gratitude journal in the evening has been shown to improve sleep quality.

With benefits like that, it's certainly worth a try! Check out both the full-color and coloring page options below:

As always, make this practice your own and have fun with it. Let me know in the comments below what you think of the addition of coloring pages. Your comments help me to provide you with meaningful product. Thank you!

Peace + Play

Erica

]]>Gratitude RainbowsShared Poses With Your Little YogisErica GolubFri, 10 Feb 2017 11:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2017/1/27/happy-valentines-day-partner-poses-for-you-and-your-littles55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:588badcdc534a50e79326156Happy Valentine's Day! I personally enjoy all the partner- and couples-themed yoga classes that pop up this time of year. Here are a few poses you can try out at home with your little one(s).

Seated Breath

For the littlest yogi, have them sit in butterfly pose inside your butterfly legs with their back up against your belly. Take deep breaths in and out of your nose together. As your child gets older, they can sit back to back with you, breathing together and trying to match each other's breath.

Chair Pose Variation A

Come into chair pose and let your little one climb up onto your thighs. Hold their hips and, if they are comfortable, have them reach their arms out to the side.

Chair Pose Variation B

For older kids, try having them face you and lean back, keeping their tummies strong. This time they need to hold on :).

Crescent Moons

Stand side-by-side in mountain pose. With your inside arms, reach out and hold hands. Take your outside arms and reach overhead, bending towards each other along the side body until you connect.

Triple Down Dog

For the littlest yogi, have them come into down dog and then tent your down dog over the top of them. As they get a little bigger, they can stand at your feet facing away from you and come into a forward fold, placing their hands on the ground and stepping their feet up to your sit bones.

Airplane Stage 1

What little kid doesn't like to fly? Lie on your back and place your feet on their hips. Hold their hands and lift your legs straight up.

Airplane Stage 2

Only if they (and you) are comfortable with it, let go of their hands and have them reach out like an airplane.

Connected Tree

Stand in mountain pose with your side bodies touching. Hug your inside arms around each other. Have your little yogi pull their outside leg up into tree first and then follow with your outside leg. Once you find balance together, bring the palms of your outside hands together in front.

(This one looks easier in the picture than it was--HA!)

Lizard On A Rock

This one is a kid favorite! Come into child's pose. Have your little yogi sit on your lower back, then slowly lay back and reach their arms overhead. Connect your hands to theirs. This one feels amazing...so go find a big person to be your rock.

As always, be safe and work within both your comfort zone and your child's. Have fun exploring the poses and playing together.

Peace + Play

erica

]]>Shared Poses With Your Little YogisNational Make a Blanket DayErica GolubMon, 06 Feb 2017 11:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2017/1/27/national-blanket-making-day55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:588bafede58c62077a644bedFebruary 18th is National Make a Blanket Day!

National Make a Blanket Day was started by Project Linus in 1999, following the horrific events that took place at Columbine High School. The community was in need of a large number of blankets, so Project Linus chapters from all across the nation organized a "blanket bee", delivering hand-made blankets to nearby chapters in Denver, CO. Since then, Local Project Linus chapters have hosted activities in their area every February. Maybe this year you can join in!

Here at Backyard Yoga, we host Shine Your Light project days once per quarter. We liked the idea of making blankets to share with those in need, so because our project day for this quarter did not line up with National Make a Blanket Day, we chose to make blankets to donate to the local children's hospital instead. Regardless of whether you team up with your local Project Linus chapter this month or contribute blankets to another cause at anytime throughout the year, this would be a great family or community project for you all to shine your light! Here is what our day looked like:

Prep work and planning took place well before the actual event. We decided on fleece tie blankets because they were the easiest for the kids to get involved with. Project Linus is a great resource for all kinds of blanket patterns.

We gathered our community on a designated day during the kids' holiday break from school. Everyone chipped in by bringing enough fleece for at least one blanket.

The adults did the cutting and the kids did the tying...well, that was the idea anyway. Together we are truly stronger: two hours later we had completed thirteen blankets!

It's never too early to start involving your kids in projects like these. Yes, the grown-ups did a lot of the leg work, but our kids are watching our every move. They see us come together as a community greater than our immediate family. They see us work together as a team and they witness the amazing results. They see us eager to help others in need. They hear our stories. They hear us say how good it feels to lift people up. Our light grows...their light grows...the world gets a little brighter.

Peace + Play

erica

]]>Groundhog Day Finger Maze MeditationErica GolubWed, 01 Feb 2017 11:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2017/1/29/groundhog-day-finger-maze-meditation55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:588e80e0c534a52f7733a92fThere have been a lot of requests lately for more meditation tools, making this the perfect time to introduce my Finger Maze Meditation. I've been kicking this idea around for quite some time, so I'm finally putting pen to paper (or stylus to Wacom tablet, to be more accurate). I guess groundhogs inspire me!

What is a Finger Maze Meditation?

You may have heard of finger mandalas, where you use your finger to trace a spiral from the outer edge all the way to the center. This Finger Maze Meditation is similar, but also adds in a breath component and a playful theme for kids: they need to help the groundhog find his way from his burrow to the surface.

Here's how it works:

You can choose to either screen-capture the graphic below for use on a tablet, or print out a physical copy.

Place your finger at the START and follow the breathing prompts.

Try to follow the maze at an even pace. Inhale and exhale, through your nose, for the entire length of each line, pausing only for a second as you turn the corner.

The benefits:

Increases focus by having to control the finger through the tight maze while following the breath prompts.

Enjoy! Please take a minute to let me know what you think in the comments below. If there is a strong, positive response to this Finger Maze Meditation, I will take the time to design more themes in the near future.

I am excited to share all of the benefits and fun you can have with yoga and kids! 

— Sara Weis

I had the pleasure of meeting Sara last year at the National Kids' Yoga Conference in Washington, DC. She had recently self-published Go Go Yoga for Kids, and her energy and spirit definitely impressed me. We have a shared passion for creating tools to help teachers, studios, and parents introduce yoga through play-filled movement, meditation, and mindfulness. Follow along as Backyard Yoga takes the time to get to know a little more about Sara and her book:

BYY: Hi, Sara. Please tell the BYY community a little bit about yourself.

Sara: Kids, teaching, and yoga are definitely my passions. I am currently in my 17th year of being an elementary school teacher, as well as a kids' yoga instructor and a busy mom of three.

I was able to put all of that into place with my recently-released book, Go Go Yoga for Kids. It is a complete and creative guide to using yoga with kids. This book was designed for parents, teachers, yoga instructors, counselors, and anyone who wants to introduce yoga through movement, mindfulness, and fun. It includes yoga games, pose illustrations, lesson plans, and many resources.

I have worked with kids the majority of my life, and I get a lot of my inspiration from my classroom students, my kids' yoga students, and my own children.

BYY: When did yoga enter into your life?

Sara: I fell in love with yoga several years ago as a way to supplement my workout routine. At the time, I was training quite a bit for triathlons and half marathons. The hard training definitely took a toll on my body, and my weekly yoga class soon turned into my favorite workout of the week and the one I looked forward to most of all.

BYY: How did your focus on kids' yoga evolve?

Sara: I became certified in teaching kids' yoga because I wanted to have the knowledge for my school classroom, as recess and PE times were being reduced. I also loved all of the benefits that yoga brought on mentally and physically.

I loved my kids' yoga training classes and knew at that moment that this was exactly what I was supposed to do. The one thing I found lacking from my training were the resources to make yoga really fun and engaging for kids, as well as lesson plans for those that wanted to use yoga with kids. At the time there was not much for kids' yoga on the market for exactly what I wanted kids to experience and gain.

Kids are busy. They need to be moving. I wanted kids to have the benefit of the yoga poses, but also be actively engaged, getting their hearts pumping and having fun. I began to create kid-friendly lesson plans and themes to use with my students, such as Superhero Yoga, Lego Yoga, and trips to the ocean and jungle. They loved it and I was inspired to continue creating more and more fun yoga themes and challenges for kids.

Sara: Yes, Go Go Yoga for Kids was developed as a way to share these lesson plans and resources so others could benefit. It didn’t happen overnight; it was months and months of planning, writing, and culminating all of my resources into an easy-to-follow guide.

BYY: What was your biggest hurdle in making this happen?

Sara: I definitely had “Mom guilt” with my own kids, as I felt like this was taking a lot of my limited extra time and energy. I don’t think my kids saw it that way, though. They are so proud of me for taking something from scratch and developing my passion. My entire family has supported me throughout this entire process.

BYY: As an entrepreneur myself, I also feel the "Mom guilt". I find getting them involved helps. Did you find this?

Sara: Definitely. Each of my three kids has helped with Go Go Yoga for Kids. Either through being a guinea pig for my ideas, modeling poses, and even having my older daughters help with design and marketing. I know they have learned a lot along the way, and I have even seen them begin to develop their own ideas and products.

Sara: I am excited for 2017 and am in the final stages of developing my new Kids' Yoga Challenge Pose Cards. They will be a great companion to the Go Go Yoga for Kids book. I will also continue to build partnerships with like-minded others such as Backyard Yoga. I am excited about the things that they have coming up as well. We are all better together and it is so much more fun!

BYY: How do you find time to play?

Sara: I love Backyard Yoga’s belief that you should make time to play every day, and I definitely practice that in my day-to-day life. It comes naturally from working with younger kids. My own family loves to be active and we often take our “play” outside with anything from hiking, a game of touch football, or jumping on our trampoline. Kids love it when adults get right in there with them.

BYY: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Sara. Now for the final question: If you could only teach your children 3 lessons, what would they be?

Sara: Compassion, mindfulness, and entrepreneurship. This pretty much sums up what I try to teach my kids in all that I do.

BYY: Thank you, Sara, for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us here at our Backyard Yoga community. Wishing you the best in your business endeavors, your family ventures, and your personal undertakings. Namaste.

Introducing Roll-a-Pose (TM), a great way to beat cabin fever! All you need is a 6-sided die and the graphic below. Roll the die, then perform the pose that corresponds to that number on the pose card. The image below is high-res, so you should be able to right-click and save it to your desktop to print.

ENJOY!

If you are loving this game and want more, I have created a deluxe version that is for sale in the shop. It includes two, 10-sided, die-in-dice. The level of play is taken up a notch, introducing 10 poses and a breath component. Pose descriptions are included on the back side of this laminated pose card.

Peace & Play

Erica

Love Athleta as much as we do at Backyard Yoga? Click through to support our efforts. It doesn't cost you anything more, just helps us keep creating. Thank you!

]]>Roll-A-Pose WintertimeMake A Yoga Snowball Fight GameErica GolubWed, 04 Jan 2017 11:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2016/12/21/have-a-yoga-snowball-fight55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:585ad2cf8419c213fa015103For those of us who live in colder areas, cabin fever is already setting in! Here is a great way to get everyone moving with a fun twist on those indoor snowball kits that are popping up everywhere. All you need is some ribbon to quickly transform the snowballs into the foundation for fun movement games. Here at Backyard Yoga, we use these games to introduce yoga moves. However, you could also introduce dance moves or write silly tasks on the ribbons . . . maybe even list some chores that need to be done! Any way you play, it's a great winter-themed activity to get the wiggles out.

Here is what you will need:

Pom pom snowballs*

Permanent marker

Ribbon

*Where to find pom pom snowballs:

The reason I use pom pom snowballs vs. the more solid ones out there is that it is easier to "attach" the ribbon. There is a tight loop at the center of the pom pom snowball where you can fish the ribbon through. It holds in place during play, AND you can take the ribbons out to change up the poses depending on the age of your kids.

Once you have everything gathered, simply write poses on the ribbon and then fish the ribbon through the center of the pom pom snowball. That's it! You can choose any color ribbon; I chose a contrasting color so the kids could find it easily inside the snowball.

To introduce even more poses, make the ribbon long enough to hang out equally on the other side, then write a pose on each end of the ribbon. Getting two poses for every one snowball allows more variation in the poses and game play.

Once they are all made you are ready to play!

Game Play Variation A

Everyone starts with one snowball.

Run around trying to tag friends with the snowballs by tossing them at each other.

If you you get tagged, you have to hold one of the poses on your ribbon until there is one person left.

Your snowball goes back into play.

Game Play Variation B

Everyone starts with one snowball.

Run around trying to tag friends by tossing snowballs.

If you get tagged, you yell out one of the poses on your ribbon and everyone stops to do the pose.

Continue playing for a set amount of time.

Game Play Variation C

This variation is great for little ones and small spaces.

Stand in a circle and turn on some music.

As the song plays, toss the snowballs back and forth. Add snowballs to increase difficulty.

When the music stops, the kid(s) holding the snowball picks a pose on the ribbon to show the rest of the kids.

As always, have fun with this, be creative, and make these games your own.

Peace + Play

erica

]]>Make A Yoga Snowball Fight GameBlizzard BreathErica GolubWed, 14 Dec 2016 12:35:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2016/12/13/blizzard-breath55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:585016573e00bee8f54ca952A blizzard just stormed through and dumped a pile of snow on our mats! It's time to get to work clearing that snow, using only straws and our breath.

YOU WILL NEED:

Clean Straws

Cotton Balls

Mats (or any other defined space)

Start by spreading the cotton balls all over the mats.

Hand each child a straw, then show them how to blow air through the straw to move the cotton balls off of their mat.

Bendy straws help to get a better angle . . .

. . . but thicker, straight straws work well, too.

Blizzard Breath is a very playful way to incorporate the Winter season while introducing breath work to children in both studios and classrooms.

Peace + Play

erica

]]>Empowerment Poster KitErica GolubTue, 06 Dec 2016 21:05:47 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2016/12/6/empowerment-poster-kit55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:584721609f745673687dc263This Empowerment Poster Kit was given to my daughter for her 7th birthday. I'm so enamored by it that I had to share it with all of you in the Backyard Yoga community.

First and foremost, it's a very well-put-together craft kit. It includes a piece of cardboard to serve as the base of the poster, 10 small sheets of tissue paper in assorted colors, two glossy sheets of paper with hundreds of descriptive words pre-printed on them, one page with 4 starbursts, 3 "i am" center motifs, 13 dividing strips, a generous bottle of decoupage glue, and a foam brush. All you'll need are scissors, a ruler or straight-edge, and a pencil or pen.

The only thing that concerns me is the gender-biased language on the "descriptive words" sheet: the sheet contains words like "daughter" but not "son". Despite this, there are plenty of words to make this a great product for both girls AND boys. We all struggle with self-esteem, and this product is a great tool for EVERYONE. I even want to make my own!!

Stay tuned for more storytime moves with Backyard Yoga coming in January.

Peace+Play

erica

]]>Lesson Plan 004 -- Visiting FeelingsErica GolubTue, 22 Nov 2016 11:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2016/10/10/lesson-plan-004-visiting-feelings55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:57fbdb1620099ea252be3040This book is one of my all-time favorites when it comes to starting a conversation about feelings. It is a great tool to help children and adults alike recognize all the different ways we can feel. My lesson plan will not only include the movements I use along with this book, but also introduce a really fun emotions game.
Visiting Feelings$11.21
By Lauren Rubenstein

Visiting Feelings is highly interactive. The text asks a lot of introspective questions, and the book is filled with beautiful illustrations of objects for children to identify as you are reading. I like to read each spread and then have the children tell me what they see in the corresponding picture. Whatever they see is what we make a pose out of. We perform the pose(s) and then move on to reading the next page.

Below you will find a series of poses that go with the pictures in the book to get you started. Once in awhile a child will see something less obvious in a picture. In this case, I typically have them show me what they think the "pebble" or "cloud" (for example) should look like.

Crescent Moon and Boat are a sneak peak into some illustrations I'm working on for future products.

FREEZE-FACE GAME

This game plays just like freeze-dance. Turn on an upbeat, energetic song and when the music stops, call out an emotion. Everyone freezes, playing out that emotion on their faces and in their bodies. If you have a mirror handy, have them freeze facing the mirror. It's sure to take the giggle factor up a notch or two. Emotions to call out might include: sad, angry, happy, surprised, scared, excited, nervous, shy, confused, or sleepy (which I usually save until the end to get the kids back to their mats).

Finish up on the mats with a few release poses and let them snuggle in for a song. One of my favorites lately is JUST BE, by Kira Willey.

OK, OK, I couldn't help myself. As a veteran toy designer (16 years!), I just had to share some of my favorite toys on the market this holiday season. Some are new and some have been around for a long time. Typically the LATEST TOY LISTS only share what's new to the market. Well, it doesn't have to be "hot off the presses" to be new to you, so I'll do my best to include some of each without overwhelming you with all of my picks.

FAMILY TIME PICKS

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel GameWhile it is true that we love squirrels here at Backyard Yoga, that's not the only reason this game made the list. It is a great tool for pre-schoolers to reinforce matching and sorting skills, strategic thinking, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills. Educational Insights makes a lot of great games--this is just one that rises to the top of my list.

Have you heard of cooperative board games? I'm a huge fan, especially for the younger set. These are games where you work together, typically against an imaginary figure, to win the game. I could do an entire post just on our family favorites, but for now I will introduce you to Peaceable Kingdom's Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game.

Designed for ages 3+, this is a matching game focused on emotions, empathy, and compassion. Each player gets a game card. Children reach into the "Helping Bag" and pull out a token. If the token can help someone on their card, it's a match. It's a great game to introduce conversation about recognizing feelings.

Dr. Eureka is designed for slightly older (ages 6 and up) children. Race to solve the formula by moving your molecules from tube to tube without dropping them. Great for logic and dexterity! I also like that this one can be played either in a group, or solo as a brainteaser.

Goggles NOT included

Puzzles are another great choice for family time. One of the coolest concepts I've seen is from MadRat Games called Madzzle Puzzles. Once you build the puzzle, you can play games with it! It also includes a magnetic roll-up mat for storage, allowing you to keep the puzzle together so that you can play the game without rebuilding the puzzle each time.

TECH AND CREATIVITY COMBINED

Osmo is quickly becoming one of my favorite tech toy companies. I love the integration of tactile pieces with the technology of the screen. As a company, Osmo loves nothing better than to watch kids smile, gain confidence, and develop powerful minds. That's a mission I can get behind.

There are two games in particular that are catching my attention: OSMO Coding (for ages 5-12), and OSMO Creative Set for Monster. These games work with iPad Pro 9.7 inch, all iPad Mini, all iPad Air, and all iPad 2 & up.

*All games require the Osmo Game System, which can be found in any Osmo Kit.

Have a little one at home who wants to be programming just like their big brother or sister? The Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-pillar (for ages 3-6) is just what you need. Connect the segments to program the Code-a-pillar's movements.

FOR YOUR LITTLE EXPLORER -- ALWAYS STAY CURIOUS

These are favorites of the children in my life so I had to list them. They've shown up on many a Christmas list I've received. Whether growing your own crystals or exploring treasure-filled rocks, each activity promotes an appreciation for the wonder of nature. Both of these kits include learning guides.

BACKYARD YOGA'S SHINE YOUR LIGHT PICK

Go on "Secret Missions of Kindness" with these kits from Renegade Made (designed for ages 8 and up).

All kits come with everything children need to carry out their random acts of kindness. For example, the Random Acts of Flowers kit includes everything you need to make a dozen paper flowers, plus hanging vases to brighten someone's day. The Fairly Painless Tattoo Lounge kit includes everything you need to set up a pop-up tattoo lounge, where kids sell and apply temporary tattoos to raise money for their favorite charity. This takes lemonade stands to a whole new level!

I hope you have found some fun treasures on this list! There are a few of these items on Santa's list for our house this year-- along with Paw Patrol, Lego's and Monster High. HA!

Peace + Play

Erica

**I have received no incentive to promote the products mentioned above.**

If you are looking for something for the active women in your life, I highly recommend checking out Athleta. I've been a fan for many years and recently became an affiliate for them. Clicking through this banner ad when shopping does help keep this blog up and running and it costs you nothing extra. Thank you for all of your support!

I discovered a new product today that I had to share with you. Those who follow me know about BYYShine Your Light Challenges. I do these challenges because I believe in offering tools that encourage children (and adults) to grow.

Today I found these Lunch Mail cards by Compendium Kids and I really love them. They fit right in with the messaging here at Backyard Kids Yoga and offer a great tool for studios, parents, and schools. They have a number of sets, but this set in particular really speaks to the Shine Your Light message.

How I plan to use them:

At the end of class I always give the children a Shine Your Light Challenge. I plan to incorporate these cards into my challenges, either by giving each child a card or, if there are a lot of kids, having them pick one out of the pile to read to the class. Do what feels best for your class and your budget.

Where you can get them:

I found them locally (Appleton, WI) at Sunflower Spa.

If you are not local you can order from their website, which is listed below. Keep in mind that they have a lot of different sets to choose from aside from the cat and dog ones that I featured above.

The expression of gratitude is almost second-nature when we reach major milestones in our lives, such as a big promotion or the birth of a baby, but what about all of the moments in between? There are countless instances in our day-to-day lives that also bring us joy, yet often pass by without notice--things as simple as eating a piece of pumpkin pie or exchanging pleasantries with someone on the street. With November and the Thanksgiving season fast-approaching, there is no better time than the present to begin your daily gratitude practice.

Practicing gratitude on a daily basis has a long list of benefits, including but not limited to: cultivating more positive emotions; improved sleep; greater well-being; and increased life satisfaction. As you begin your own journey, try to notice new things that you are grateful for each time. This will help to deepen your gratitude practice by opening your consciousness to more opportunities for thankfulness.

The following is a list of creative ways to incorporate a daily gratitude practice into your life, whether personally, as a couple, or as a family:

Ideas for practicing gratitude personally

Get outside and go for a walk or run. Pick a gratefulness "trigger"--it might be every half-mile or every time you pass a lamp post. Each time you reach that mileage or landmark, say one thing you are grateful for. Do your best not to have any repeats, and try to stick with this exercise for the entire duration of your walk or run.

Set a daily gratitude alarm on your phone. When it goes off, write down one thing you are grateful for in your notes app. When you are having a low moment in your day, you can refer back to your notes.

Ideas for practicing gratitude as a couple

Before you fall asleep at night, say three things that you are grateful for in one another. Bonus points if you say it while making eye contact with your partner.

Share a gratitude journal together. Choose one location to keep the journal. At some point during the day, each of you should write one thing you are grateful for. It's not only a great way to practice gratitude on a daily basis, it's also a nice way to stay connected to each other when the days get busy. If you have a significant other who travels a lot or if you are in a long-distance relationship, try creating an online document that you can share access to.

Ideas for practicing gratitude as a family

Create dinner conversation-starters centered around gratitude. Write twenty questions on strips of paper and place them in a jar at the center of your dinner table. Each evening, let a family member pick one question, then go around the table and allow everyone to answer. This exercise encourages each person to notice different sources of gratitude and reduces repetitive answers each night. Some sample questions might be: What is your favorite part of your home? What is something your teacher does that you are grateful for? What was the happiest part of your day? What is your favorite toy?

Create a gratitude paper chain in your home this November. Pre-cut a pile of paper chain strips and designate an area to keep the strips and markers. Starting on November 1st, each day family members should write one thing they are grateful for on a strip and add it to the chain. Place the words on the inside of the loop so you can't see them. Watch the chain grow throughout the month of November. During Thanksgiving dinner, take turns opening the links and reading them out loud.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to share these ideas with you. Remember to have fun with them and make them your own.

The Metamorphosis of a Butterfly sequence I created below fits in nicely with this story. Don't forget to listen to the song suggestion that follows the yoga sequence. It's a great way to add some energy-burning movement into the class. As always, make this lesson your own and enjoy exploring the story through movement.

Song Suggestion:

Fly Like a Butterfly by Bari Koral, from her newest album entitled little box of happy

Peace + Play

Erica

Help support Backyard Yoga by clicking through the banner ad below for all your Athleta shopping. It costs you nothing extra but supports us in our time creating and designing content. Thank You!

]]>Lesson Plan 003 -- The Very Hungry CaterpillarA 5-Minute Halloween Yoga Treat to Share with Your Little MonstersErica GolubFri, 28 Oct 2016 10:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2016/9/12/halloween-yoga55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:57d6fce79f745699268137b3Halloween is a great time of year to incorporate a playful, themed yoga sequence into your family’s day. As you move through the different poses, remember to let your child (and yourself) explore each one in their own body and imagination. The pictures are presented only as a guide. Every body and every pose interpretation is unique to the child, so refrain from correcting. Now, go gather your kids and get ready for some giggles.

Let’s pretend to be little ghosts working on our Boo Breaths.

photo: Erica Golub

Sit up nice and tall in criss-cross applesauce.

Rest your hands on your knees.

INHALE through your nose, than EXHALE with a "Boo".

The longer you make your inhalations, the bigger your "Boo"s will be!

Let’s pretend to be a wolf howling at the moon. . .

photo: Erica Golub

Move onto hands and knees.

Arms should be straight with hands directly below your shoulders.

Make sure your knees are directly below your hips.

INHALE, fill your belly with air, and let it drop down. Lift your tail and chin up towards the sky.

EXHALE and howl at the moon like a wolf!

. . . and now let's transform into a Halloween cat.

photo: Erica Golub

This time as you EXHALE, tuck your chin down and your tail under.

Arch your back up high like a scary Halloween cat.

"Meow!"

Let’s Pretend to be a mummy sitting up from its grave.

Lay down flat on your back, stretched out long.

INHALE and reach your arms straight above you.

As you EXHALE, try to roll up to a seated position.

Moaning like a mummy on the exhalation is encouraged!

Let’s pretend to be a bat hanging upside down.

photo:Erica Golub

Stand up tall with feet wide.

INHALE, standing tall with your hands on your hips.

As you EXHALE, bend over at your waist and let your head hang low.

Hug yourself with your arms like a bat wrapping himself in his wings.

You can even start to sway back and forth if comfortable.

Let’s pretend to be a spider wiggling around.

photo: Erica Golub

Stand tall with your feet wide.

As you EXHALE, drop down into a squat.

Weave your arms behind your knees.

Place your hands on the ground outside of your feet.

Can you walk and wiggle like a spider?

Let’s pretend to be a pumpkin in a big pumpkin patch.

photo: Erica Golub

Roll onto your back.

As you INHALE, pull your knees into your chest and give them a big hug with your arms.

Continue breathing in and out as you rock your pumpkin from side to side.

Happy Halloween, Namaste.

erica

Hello, World!

]]>A 5-Minute Halloween Yoga Treat to Share with Your Little MonstersCreate a Gratitude Chain This Thanksgiving SeasonErica GolubThu, 27 Oct 2016 10:55:00 +0000http://backyardkidsyoga.com/blog/2016/10/25/create-a-gratitude-chain-this-thanksgiving-season55943e5ee4b0cd952415ab01:566653321115e0931b58a888:580f84089de4bb7cf1762347There are countless instances in our day-to-day lives that bring us joy, yet often pass by without notice--things as simple as eating a piece of pumpkin pie or exchanging pleasantries with someone on the street. With November and the Thanksgiving season fast-approaching, there is no better time than the present to begin your daily gratitude practice.

Today I'm sharing with you how to create a Gratitude Chain with your family. A Gratitude Chain is a playful and visually impactful way to practice gratitude, especially with children. As you create your chain, try to notice new things that you are grateful for each time. This will help to deepen your gratitude practice by opening your consciousness to more opportunities for thankfulness

STEP 1: Prep Your Space

Gather colorful paper, fancy pens, and tape.

Set up a link-making station with pre-cut strips of paper, colorful pens, and tape.

Choose a spot where your chain will live and grow for the next month.

Step 2: Set The Expectations

Pull the family together and work collaboratively to create the "rules". Involving the whole family in this process ensures that everyone has buy-in right from the beginning. Our family keeps it very simple with the following two rules: 1) Fill out at least one link a day; and 2) Try to make them different each day.

At this time you should also pick a start and end date. Our family will start on November 1st and end on Thanksgiving day.

Step 3: Building The Chain

Every day, each family member will write on a pre-cut strip something they are feeling grateful for.

Take the strip and loop it through the last link on the chain, making sure that the writing is on the inside of the loop.

Attach the ends of the loop with tape.

Step 4: Share The Chain

On the chosen end date, sit together as a family and read each link on the chain out loud. Our family will do this during Thanksgiving dinner, but you can choose any time that works for your family as long as you are together.

Wishing you and your family a very blessed Thanksgiving season. I am grateful to be able to share this gratitude practice with you and your family.